Domenic Natale is making progress in the Rutgers quarterback competition this spring. (Photo by Augusto F. Menezes/HNT)

PISCATAWAY — When spring camp began, Domenic Natale told himself he wasn’t going to win the quarterback job outright no matter how well he played.

But the man designated as Rutgers’ starting signal caller knows he certainly could lose his perch on the depth chart if he doesn’t show progress this spring.

To that end, Natale is satisfied with where he’s at one-third of the way through spring camp, understanding he still has a long way to go before he’s handed the starting job to open the season but also knowing he hasn’t lost ground either.

“”I’m happy that I’m making progress everyday,” said Natale, a fifth-year senior. “”I’ve learned a lot just in terms of the offense and what I need to do. If I can go out here everyday, learn stuff and improve on my mistakes I’m happy with that. I definitely feel more comfortable every time I step on the field.”

With three-year starter Mike Teel having graduated, Natale is currently competing with freshmen D.C. Jefferson and Steve Shimko in a wide-open quarterback competition that figures to get stiffer this summer when highly-touted recruit Tom Savage and co-starter Jabu Lovelace (who’s out this spring with a foot injury) enter the fray.

According to Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, Natale has proven himself to have a firm grasp of the offense so far this spring.

“”I think Domenic has a better grip or understands things better than the other guys,” Schiano said Saturday after a practice that included several live 11-on-11 series. “”It’s just trying to get a hold of what we’re doing. It’s disjointed with Jabu not practicing. I think it’s an opportunity for all these guys to get better, and they are. No doubt, five practices they’ve made a big improvement.”

Asked to evaluate the quarterback competition as a whole, Schiano declined.

“”I can’t,” he said. “”Let me watch the tape. It’s not nearly good enough, I can tell you that.”

Natale wasn’t satisfied with his results during one 2-minute drill late in practice, when he drove the first-team offense inside the 10-yard line only to have a pass intercepted in the end zone.

“”Today I learned not to force stuff at the end of a drive; just take it down a notch and throw it away if I have to,” said Natale, who played in six games as Teel’s backup last fall, completing 3 of 8 passes for 36 yards.

“”You’re going to make mistakes. It won’t be the last mistake I make at the quarterback position, I can tell you that. Personally I’m a competitive person, and I take offense to it, but as far as football is concerned you have to say ‘Next play.’ ”

Natale said he believes his biggest strides this spring have been made in the film room, when he’s been able to see the mistakes he’s made and learn from them.

“”I don’t even judge stuff when it’s on the field,” Natale said. “”When you’re doing it, you can’t judge it. You just have to go out and do it. And at the end of the day I’ll go up, shower, have something to eat and then watch the film, talk to the coaches, and write stuff in my book on where I need to improve. When you’re out here, coach preaches it’s not a judging period. Once we’re back in the building, it’s time to sit down and fix the mistakes.”

In addition to gaining a better grasp on an offensive playbook that’s been tinkered with by new co-coordinators Kirk Ciarrocca and Kyle Flood, Natale said he feels more comfortable standing in the pocket and making plays against a Rutgers defense that’s expected to be considered among the Big East’s elite this season.

“”Basically my biggest thing is trying to slow the game down,” Natale said. “”And I think it is slowing down now, but I want to get to the point where every play is like slow motion almost. It’s just knowing the stuff like the back of your hand, and mastering it.

“”I’m not there yet, but I’m getting there. So everyday I just come back out and try to do it.”

THIS AND THAT: Asked for his impressions during the live periods, Schiano said: “”I thought (running backs) Joe (Martinek) and Jourdan (Brooks) did some good things. (Safety) Khaseem Greene made a good play (on an interception thrown by D.C. Jefferson). I thought the receivers caught the ball better than they have all spring. They’re still not close to where we need to be but it’s an improvement. I thought (linebacker) Damaso (Munoz) played with a great deal of passion. We didn’t go many plays, but for what they did it was good.” … Lovelace practiced without a protective boot on his surgically-repaired ankle for the first time this spring, but the senior quarterback is still expected to be held out from live reps this spring. “”He is making progress,” Schiano said of Lovelace. … Starting right tackle Kevin Haslam missed practice with what Schiano described as “”a little tweak in his leg.” “”I don’t think it’s serious,” Schiano said, adding he’s “”not sure” whether Haslam will be back this spring. Haslam was replaced on the first-team line by 6-5, 280-pound sophomore Desmond Stapleton. … Though Jefferson looked shaky at times running Rutgers’ offense, the 6-6, 240-pound backup quarterback ended practice by completing a 45-yard dart to Pat Brown for a touchdown in a 2-minute drill.